The Glasgow Rangers player can operate at both centre-back and holding midfield but where is his long-term future at Ibrox?
New Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has a lot of decisions to make in the coming months, with next season a massive challenge in terms of competing with treble-winners Celtic and restoring pride at Ibrox.
Graeme Murty went some way to erasing the memory of Pedro Caixinha’s ill-fated stint with the Gers, and the former’s decision to play Ross McCrorie in midfield showed what the youngster can do further forward.
Given his performances at centre-back against the Bhoys, some Rangers fans believe McCrorie should not revert to defence next season. However that decision will ultimately rest with Gerrard and, with the right coaching, there is no reason why the 20-year-old could not become the new Ranger boss’s very own version of Jamie Carragher.
McCrorie’s critics may disagree, yet he is still very young and at least five or six years away his peak. With that time to develop, and given Carragher’s importance during Gerrard’s playing days, it will be no surprise if the new Rangers boss focuses on the academy product’s defensive weaknesses in the hope that he blossoms into one of the finest centre-backs in the Scottish Premiership.
Carragher began his Liverpool career, albeit briefly, as a midfielder, scoring on his full debut against Aston Villa before becoming something of a utility player in his early years in the first-team.
We all know what happened next, and Rangers could have a player who follows a similar path in the form of McCrorie.
Gerrard will need to bring plenty of new faces to Ibrox in the coming months but McCrorie is one of his shining lights. The only question is: Do Rangers play the youngster at the heart of their defence or continue his development in a position the new Gers boss is far more familiar with?
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